Opinion

Letter: Governor’s spending

Everyone is aware of Gov. Brownback’s cuts for education, the arts and social services. Apparently the good governor did not care to include cutting his own spending. In case you missed it, an area television station recently did an investigative report from the Kansas Statehouse. They reported that Brownback spent nearly $8,000 of the taxpayers money on trips to Germany for an air show and another trip to Russia, first class of course.

The governor also chartered air flights to such towns as Kansas City, Manhattan and Wichita instead of saving taxpayers money by driving. He also took trips to the Sweet 16 in St. Louis and the Final Four in New Orleans on our tax money. The governor also hosted parties at the mansion for Republican cronies having wine, beef Wellington and shrimp cocktails. I have to pay whenever I have a party, but Brownback used our tax money for his. These are just a few of his spending abuses. Overall, he spent $250,000 on your dime, but refused to explain. It’s worth your time to check out this story; a quick Google search will tell you all about it.

More like this story on LJWorld.com

Comments

Taking from the poor and living the good life. Brownback has enough money you would think if he wants to go on vacations and trips to basketball games he would spend his own money rather than taking it from the poor.

Well Western Kansas, the ones who elected this clown, what do you say? I am tired of this over spending, and totally irresponsible government we have in Topeka, even without knowing our governors spending habits of our money.

Where is the $47 million tax dollars that once belonged to Kansas taxpayers?

My congratulations to workers in 16 states – from Maine to Georgia, New Jersey to Colorado! Many of you will be thrilled to know that the income taxes deducted from your paychecks each month are going to a very worthy cause: your corporate boss.

Good Jobs First, a non-profit, non-partisan research center, has analyzed state programs meant to create jobs, but instead have created some $700 million a year in corporate welfare. This scam starts with the normal practice of corporations withholding from each employee's monthly check the state income taxes their workers owe.

But rather than remitting this money to pay for state services, these 16 states simply allow the corporations to keep the tax payments for themselves! Adding to the funkiness of taxation-by-corporation, the bosses don't even have to tell workers that the company is siphoning off their state taxes for its own fun and profit.

These heists are rationalized in the name of "job creation," but that's a hoax, too. They're really just bribes the states pay to get corporations to move existing jobs from one state to another, or they're hostage payments to corporations that demand the public's money – or else they'll move their jobs out of state.

Last year, Kansas used workers' withholding taxes to bribe AMC Entertainment with a $47 million payment to move its headquarters from downtown Kansas City, Missouri, to a KC suburb on the Kansas side, just 10 miles away. What a ripoff! What and absurd diversions of state taxes from public need to private greed.

(((AMC Entertainment has since been sold to Dalian Wanda Group of China. )))

When this tax deal was cut AMC and Cordish Co. of Baltimore were partners. As of 5/25/12 this partnership is becoming history.

As with many buyouts/mergers people lose jobs sooner of later due to the expense of purchase. Is all of the above legal as far as the $47 million tax dollar give away is concerned?

Another great one, Craig!! Did you get out the thesaurus again? Hey, did you know you don't have to send your handwritten letter in the mail? You can do it all online. Ask Alan, he'll show you how. I missed you on Halloween, but now you've got Christmas and the Christians to rage against. Lookin' forward to it.

Of course, the tea bag posters are going to support Brownback's spending. I mean, he has to fly first class, he's a leader (royalty). You lowly tax payers (middle and working class) are just jealous. Pity the rich. Boo hoo.

You have no idea how pathetic your salivating over the real people who are ripping off, while blaming poor people who have no power is. If you lived in Germany in the 30's, you would probably just follow along with blaming the Jews for your misfortune. Open your eyes!